body intelligence COLLECTIVE
interactive performance
Digital Umbilical is a dance performance exploring organic connection between individuals (dancer and audience member), and its amplification through the use of technology.
Inspired by factors of intimacy: proximity, warmth, sensing the pulse of each other, quietness: we aim at creating a shared experience which is unique to the moment. Our strongest reference is the womb: a place of deep intimacy with another human being, surrounding us in sound, low vibration and soft light, a place of interdependent living.
Repurposing technological tools of bio-data control and measurement, Digital Umbilical wants to reclaim the poetic, rhythmic and creative aspect of bio-rhythms and body cycles, enabling audiences to reconnect to their bodies as spectators as well as participants.
At a time where we are rising political division along simplified categorisation and artificial boundaries amongst humans, we believe it is critical to get audiences and participants to reconnect to the universality of our body, and an experience we have all shared as human beings.
Concept and realisation by Body Intelligence Collective
Choreographer - Renaud Wiser
Creative Technologist - Simon Haenggi
Programmer - Jon Rowe
Performer - Adam Seid Tahir
Designer - Salomé Bazin
Creative Producer - Lara Buffard
Project associates:
Musician/Composer - Arthur Astier
Performer - Rosanne Briens
In 2021 and in partnership with the Royal College of Nursing, Body Intelligence Collective will run a series of workshops across the UK around ‘Making care visible’ and will subsequently create a second version of Digital Umbilical to be presented in different cities around the country.
Digital Umbilical is the inaugural winning project of the 2019 London Dansathon. The creation of Digital Umbilical was made possible with the generous support of Arts Council England National Lottery Project Grants, Fondation BNP Parisbas and Sadler's Wells.
